The strange case of Jason Kenney and the faked citizenship ceremony continues to intrigue. Many have criticized the role of Sun TV in broadcasting, as news, a hoked-up photo-op in which federal bureaucrats posed as new Canadians.
But the bizarre incident is more interesting in what it says about Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government — its bully-boy approach to the federal bureaucracy, its indifference to reality and, in particular, its unrelenting attempts to redefine the way in which Canadians view their own country.
That Kenney was at the centre is only appropriate. The immigration minister has served as point man in the government’s effort to corral votes of so-called ethnics.
But beyond that, Kenney’s job is to help change the way in which Canadians look at politics, part of a long-term effort to make Harper-style Conservatism the country’s dominant ideology.
The old Conservative brand, associated with prime ministers like John Diefenbaker and Joe Clark, emphasized practicality melded with compassion. The new one focuses on pride, patriotism and toughness.
Martial valour is an integral part of this new image. From that stems Harper’s emphasis on the military, as well as the alacrity with which he sends Canadian troops to wage war in unlikely countries like Libya.
Toughness is expressed by the government’s emphasis on jails and mandatory sentencing, as well as its take-no-prisoners approach to political foes.
But above all, the Conservatives want to brand themselves as the party of patriots. Hence the reinvention of old symbols —such as putting the word “royal” back in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Hence also the insistence on labeling as anti-Canadian anyone who opposes Harper. According to the government, those critical of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline project in British Columbia are not just misguided, but dupes — fifth-column radicals funded (in the words of Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver) by foreign “socialist billionaires.”
In Kenney’s case, the goal is a tricky one. He must appease old-stock conservatives who mistrust immigrants. Yet he must do this without offending new Canadians whose votes the government seeks.
The solution is to create a stark dichotomy between good and evil. Bad immigrants, including many refugee claimants, are to be locked up and deported. No mercy is to be shown.
But good immigrants — particularly those who show themselves appropriately grateful — are to be lauded.
In that sense, the Sun TV escapade was perfect. A televised citizenship reaffirmation ceremony would highlight the patriotic gratitude of good immigrants. It would also throw a competitive bone to a network whose key, primetime commentators act as shock troops in Harper’s ideological war.
Indeed, Sun TV has been miles ahead of even Joe Oliver in identifying real and imagined enemies of the people: George Soros, the Hungarian-American philanthropist; Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez; the CBC; anyone who criticizes the Alberta oil sands.
This week, Conservative Heritage Minister James Moore was added to Sun TV’s enemies list after he suggested that the network’s crusade against its main rival, CBC, might be profit-motivated. (Moore, wisely for someone who wants to remain in a Harper cabinet, quickly recanted.)
All of this seems somehow appropriate. As The Canadian Press’ Jennifer Ditchburn reported when she broke the Kenney story last week, federal bureaucrats desperately tried to convince the network to broadcast a real citizenship ceremony with real immigrants.
But Sun TV wanted something fast that was in-studio. And Kenney’s office wanted the network pleased.
What finally appeared wasn’t real. But it was televised. For this government, that’s what counts.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Thomas Walkom
But the bizarre incident is more interesting in what it says about Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government — its bully-boy approach to the federal bureaucracy, its indifference to reality and, in particular, its unrelenting attempts to redefine the way in which Canadians view their own country.
That Kenney was at the centre is only appropriate. The immigration minister has served as point man in the government’s effort to corral votes of so-called ethnics.
But beyond that, Kenney’s job is to help change the way in which Canadians look at politics, part of a long-term effort to make Harper-style Conservatism the country’s dominant ideology.
The old Conservative brand, associated with prime ministers like John Diefenbaker and Joe Clark, emphasized practicality melded with compassion. The new one focuses on pride, patriotism and toughness.
Martial valour is an integral part of this new image. From that stems Harper’s emphasis on the military, as well as the alacrity with which he sends Canadian troops to wage war in unlikely countries like Libya.
Toughness is expressed by the government’s emphasis on jails and mandatory sentencing, as well as its take-no-prisoners approach to political foes.
But above all, the Conservatives want to brand themselves as the party of patriots. Hence the reinvention of old symbols —such as putting the word “royal” back in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Hence also the insistence on labeling as anti-Canadian anyone who opposes Harper. According to the government, those critical of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline project in British Columbia are not just misguided, but dupes — fifth-column radicals funded (in the words of Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver) by foreign “socialist billionaires.”
In Kenney’s case, the goal is a tricky one. He must appease old-stock conservatives who mistrust immigrants. Yet he must do this without offending new Canadians whose votes the government seeks.
The solution is to create a stark dichotomy between good and evil. Bad immigrants, including many refugee claimants, are to be locked up and deported. No mercy is to be shown.
But good immigrants — particularly those who show themselves appropriately grateful — are to be lauded.
In that sense, the Sun TV escapade was perfect. A televised citizenship reaffirmation ceremony would highlight the patriotic gratitude of good immigrants. It would also throw a competitive bone to a network whose key, primetime commentators act as shock troops in Harper’s ideological war.
Indeed, Sun TV has been miles ahead of even Joe Oliver in identifying real and imagined enemies of the people: George Soros, the Hungarian-American philanthropist; Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez; the CBC; anyone who criticizes the Alberta oil sands.
This week, Conservative Heritage Minister James Moore was added to Sun TV’s enemies list after he suggested that the network’s crusade against its main rival, CBC, might be profit-motivated. (Moore, wisely for someone who wants to remain in a Harper cabinet, quickly recanted.)
All of this seems somehow appropriate. As The Canadian Press’ Jennifer Ditchburn reported when she broke the Kenney story last week, federal bureaucrats desperately tried to convince the network to broadcast a real citizenship ceremony with real immigrants.
But Sun TV wanted something fast that was in-studio. And Kenney’s office wanted the network pleased.
What finally appeared wasn’t real. But it was televised. For this government, that’s what counts.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Thomas Walkom
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